State rank#6 of 67
Smallest county230,211 residentsJefferson County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 01117
Shelby County, Alabama
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population230,211
Household income$97,961
Unemployment2.4%
Life expectancy79.4 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Shelby County has 230,211 residents and ranks #6 by population among Alabama county equivalents. Median household income is $97,961. The annual-average unemployment rate is 2.4%. Its clearest relative strength is median household income. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Alabama
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Shelby County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Shelby County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median household income.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $326,100 median home value and $1,401/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $97,961, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Shelby County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, unemployment rate, and bachelor’s degree or higher. College attainment is 46.8% and life expectancy is 79.4 years.
Potential advantages
- Median household income: $97,961, rank #1 of 67 available Alabama counties.
- Unemployment rate: 2.4%, rank #1 of 67 available Alabama counties.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 46.8%, rank #1 of 67 available Alabama counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median home value: $326,100, rank #67 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,401/mo, rank #67 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
- Mental health access: 1 per 756 residents, rank #16 of 67; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Alabama
Rank and range use only counties in Alabama with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$97,961
$97,961; above the state county median of $54,563.
State rank #1 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$326,100
$326,100; above the state county median of $156,600.
State rank #67 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,401/mo
$1,401/mo; above the state county median of $776/mo.
State rank #67 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
2.4%
2.4%; below the state county median of 3.3%.
State rank #1 of 67 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
46.8%
46.8%; above the state county median of 17.2%.
State rank #1 of 67 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
79.4 years
79.4 years; above the state county median of 72.2 years.
State rank #1 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
14.6%
14.6%; below the state county median of 23.6%.
State rank #1 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
7.6%
7.6%; below the state county median of 11.3%.
State rank #1 of 67 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,297 residents
1 per 1,297 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,467 residents.
State rank #6 of 65 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 756 residents
1 per 756 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,548 residents.
State rank #16 of 67 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Shelby County FAQ
Is Shelby County a good place to live?
Shelby County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, unemployment rate, and bachelor’s degree or higher. College attainment is 46.8% and life expectancy is 79.4 years.
What should I know before moving to Shelby County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $326,100 median home value and $1,401/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $97,961, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Shelby County?
Shelby County has 230,211 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Shelby County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 01117; the parent state FIPS is 01.
What is the median household income in Shelby County?
The ACS median household income is $97,961.
How much does housing cost in Shelby County?
Housing benchmarks are $326,100 median home value and $1,401/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $97,961, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Shelby County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 2.4%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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